BY
Chloe Loh

Deputy Editor

Hype Issue #64

Published on

June 7th 2025

tAs Gen Z prioritises wellness, safety, and meaningful connections over wild nights out in the club, DJs are increasingly under pressure to evolve – or risk facing extinction.

Hannah Melanie Teoh, 19, a Gen Z who doesn’t go clubbing, says, “I feel like a club doesn’t allow you to have that connection and time to bond with friends. Everything is so distracting. The music is so loud and the lights are very glaring.”

Hannah isn’t the only one with such sentiments. Many Gen Zs today have similar reservations, choosing to avoid clubbing, remain sober, and look for alternative ways to have fun with friends.

“There’s a complete and noticeable dip within the club attendance among Gen Zs.”, says Thisath Atapattu, otherwise known as Sath, a DJ and producer at Spectrum Singapore (a club at Clarke Quay).

Sath has been a DJ since 2022 and a producer for 8 years, having spun at several events and clubs. Photo courtesy of Thisath Atapattu.

Changing nightlife scene in Singapore

Today, many Gen Zers prioritise their physical and mental well-being, choosing to drink less, eat healthily, and exercise more. According to a survey by GlobalData, 71% of consumers in Asia-Pacific drank less alcohol as of August 2020, citing reasons related to the impact on physical and mental health. Many nightlife establishments, notably Neon Pigeon, Fura, and MO Bar, have also been offering non-alcoholic drinks to cater to youths who are more health-conscious.

Sath shared that it took a toll on him when gigs dried up, and he wasn’t sure how long he could sustain his job as a DJ. He ended up turning to producing, swapping the mixer for the studio, trying to churn out as many original ideas as possible. 

Health and well-being aren’t the only reasons for Singapore’s changing nightlife scene. With inflation, an unstable economy, and job insecurity, Gen Zs find that clubbing just isn’t worth the price. 

While good music and DJs are enough to convince Hannah to go clubbing, the total price of the entrance fee, drinks, and transport home puts her off clubbing. Instead, she would rather spend the money on concerts where she gets a similar experience, or other cheaper experiences such as karaoke or dinner with friends.

Jolene Yap Wei Shan, 19, a Gen Z who enjoys clubbing once or twice a month shares, “For me personally, I think I wouldn’t be so interested in clubbing but more interested in raving actually, because I feel like raving provides music that is what I prefer the most instead of clubbing.”

Impact on DJs and Clubs

Gen Z’s move away from traditional clubbing has already forced the closure of numerous nightlife venues in once-thriving districts like Clarke Quay and Keong Saik Road. According to Straits Times, Mr Andrew Li, chief executive of Zouk, Singapore’s longest-running nightclub, has seen a dip in business, which he believes is due to the rising costs of living and club-goers opting for nightlife hotspots overseas.

Sath notes, “The industry never fully bounced back [from COVID-19], especially in Singapore. Nowadays, I think clubs operate fewer nights and budgets are a bit tighter.”

With clubs being heavily impacted by COVID-19 and Gen Z’s shift away from the traditional nightlife scene, DJs have to find ways to draw the crowd back. 

Jolene emphasises, “DJs have the biggest role in the nightlife experience, because I’m actually there for the music and to have a fun time with people, so if the music isn’t good then I don’t really see the point of going anymore.” 

Sath has also worked with music labels such as STMPD RCRDS, Revealed Recordings, and Spinnin’ Records. Photo courtesy of Thisath Atapattu.

What are DJs doing to pivot

In order to stay relevant and appeal to Gen Zs, Sath has to drop in mashups of throwback remixes, or songs and sounds that are currently popular on TikTok. He has even used “Italian brainrot” as an a cappella to hype up the crowd as he DJs.

“Given the fact that there’s a rise, or rather a drop in attention span among Gen Z, I would use shorter transitions and make it more back-to-back-to-back to cater to shorter attention spans. But then again, I’ll still stay true to my original sound and don’t really force it if the crowd isn’t into it,” he adds. 

While the number of clubbers is reducing, the emergence of alternative party scenes has provided DJs a new form of income beyond traditional DJing at clubs. Independent party throwers such as Adults Do Hard Dance (ADHD), book unique and up-and-coming DJs for their parties, while other party throwers such as Hyperfocus and 5210PM are started by DJs themselves.

Most DJs hold more than one job, choosing to DJ as a secondary job due to its low pay. Hyperfocus’ DJs are no exception. DJ New Masculine and DJ Tempolaree, two of the DJs behind Hyperfocus, hold a second job as a barber and a freelance production technician, respectively. Sath is no exception, taking on additional gigs such as weddings, corporate events, and pop-up events to stay involved in the scene while keeping a steady flow of gigs. However, a significant number of DJs end up leaving the scene entirely due to burnout, life commitments, and financial sustainability.

Is DJing still sustainable in Singapore?

Full-time DJs are rare in Singapore. Those who are usually have residences – regular gigs — at major clubs like Zouk and Marquee.

However, while this is true, Sath still feels that it is realistic to enter the industry. He emphasises that starting without a side hustle or alternative source of income makes it very hard to stay afloat.

While making a name for yourself isn’t easy, Sath believes that your passion must be strong and the grind must be stronger to make it. Photo courtesy of Thisath Atapattu.

So, what would need to change in the scene for DJing to be sustainable in the long term? Sath thinks that if there’s more funding and grants for nightlife creatives, fewer Gen Zs would worry about their financial states and focus more on having a good night out. DJing is heavily reliant on gigs, but with the lack of both financial and fan support, demand has been dropping.

“Even a shift in audience mindset like valuing the DJ as an artist and not just a human jukebox is very important in making DJing more sustainable,” Sath remarks.

DJs aren’t just the Spotify for the night; they are artists. While they may not be a singer-songwriter like other artists, the technical skills needed to mix, manipulate sounds, and entertain an audience make them just as much of an artist deserving of support as others. After all, nightlife is a part of culture. It provides a space for connection, expression, and social interaction.